The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-05-13
DROPPING THE VEIL.


up the Star Spangled Banner and amid
the clapping of hands the American flag en-
| veloping the statue was dropped and the
| great bronze image stood exposed to the
rays of the midday sun. There was lull
in the proceedings while the artillery doomed
out the national salute. Gen. Sheridan then
| introduced the orator of the day, Gen. j.
| Warren keifer, who, ON the part of the
monument COMMITTEES, delivered an address
| transferring the statue to Gen. Sheridan.
THE PRESIDENTS SPEECH.
Gen. Sheridan then transferred it to
| President Cleveland, who, In accepting it,
spoke as follows:
FELLOW CITIZENSHIP the performance of the
| duty assigned to me on this occasion, hereby
accept, on behalf of the people of the United
states, this completed and beautiful statue.
Amid an Interchange of fraternal greetings be-
| tween the survivors of the Army of the Cumber-
| land and their former foes upon the battlefield,
and while the Union General and peoples Presi-
dent awaited burial, the common grief OF these
| magnanmous soldiers and mourning citizens
found expression in determination to erect this
| tribute to American greatness; and thus to-day,
| in its symmetry and beauty, II presents o sym.
| Dol of animosities forgotten, an emblem of
| brotherhood redeemed and the token of a nation
| restored.
| Monuments and statues multiply throughout
| the land, 1ttingly illustrative of the love and
| affection of our grateful people and commemo-
| rating brave and patriotic sacrifices in war,
| fame in peaceful pursuits, or honor In public
| station. But from this day forth there shall
stand at our seat of government this statue of
citizen who In his life and services combined
! all those things, and more, which challenge ad-
miration in Americans, loving tenderness In
| every domestic relation, bereavement on the
field of battle fame and distinction In our halls
| of legislation, and the highest honor and
| dignity in the chief magistracy of the nation.
This stately officer shall not fail TO teach every
| beholder that the source of American greatness
| is confined to no condition, nor is dependent
alone for its growth and development upon
favorable surroundings. The genius of our ma
( tional life beckons to usefulness and honor
those in every sphere and offers the highest per-
| fection to manly ambition and sturdy, honest
| effort, chastened and consecrated by personal
| hopes and aspirations AS long as this statue
stands let it be proudly remembered that to
| every American citizen the way is open to fame
and station until he,
Moving up from high to higher,
Stands on fortunes crowning slope,
| The pillar of a peoples hope,
The centre OF a worlds desire"
Nor can we forget that it also teaches
| our people a sad and distressing lesson,
| and the thoughtful citizen who views its fair
proportions cannot fail to recall the tragedy of
| death which brought grief and mourning 10
every household in the land But while
| American citizens stand aghast and alright
| ed, that murder and assassination should
lurk in the midst Of the people and strike down
| the head of their government, fearless search
of these hateful and unnatural things
| should be followed by a solemn resolve to
| purge forever from our political methods and
from the operation of our government the per-
versions and misconceptions which give birth to
| passionate and bloody thoughts. II from this
| hour our admiration for bravery and nobility
| of American manhood and our faith in the pos
| sibities and opportunities of American citizen
| ship be renewed, if our appreciation of the
4 blessings of a restored union and love for our
| government be strengthened, and If our watch
| fulness against the dangers of the mad chase af
| ter partisan spoils be qnickened the dedication
of this statue to the people Of the United States
| will not be in vain.
| FREQUENTLY APPLAUDED.
During the delivery of his address the
Z, President was frequently interrupted by out
bursts of applause, He spoke fiuently, in a
| clear voice, which was audible 60 most of
the vast crowd that filed the circle. When
he had concluded, the band played Hail
| Columbia and Rev. 4. ID. Power, who was
pastor of Gen. Garfields church in this city,
pronounced the beuediction. The troops
were then dismissed and the ceremonies
came TO an end. Secretaries Endicott and
Whitney came IN during the delivery of the
grafton. Mrs. Villas, who was also delayed,
took the seat beside Mrs. Cleveland which
had been vacated by the President when he
stepped forward to begin his address.
| THE STATUE.
The statue, which is of bronze, is a de-
sign of Sculptor Ward, who also designed
the equestrian statue of Gen. Thomas in this
| city. 1t is 10 feet inches in height and
represents Gen. Garfield facing west, in the
action Of delivering an address, with his
| right hand resting on the column and a
manuscript in his left. The pose of the
column is easy. The bronze tablets above
the figure bear a globe. trumpet and a
sword, and laurel wreath, enclosing scales
of justice. The inscriptions upon the shaft
are placed on three sides as follows. On the
southwest face: